Diesel prices jump to $1.704 per gallon

| Monday, February 24, 2003

According
to figures released by the Department of Energy’s Energy Information
Administration (EIA) Feb. 17, the national average cost of diesel fuel
per gallon this week rose to $1.704 from last week's average of $1.662.

Reportedly,
$1.704 is the highest cost of diesel per gallon ever recorded by the
EIA. The previous high was $1.67, recorded in October 2000.

The highest
rates are in the Central Atlantic states, where the price is $1.851;
in New England, where the price is $1.885; and in California, where the
price is $1.783.

The remaining
regions' prices per gallon are as follows: $1.742 on the West Coast;
$1.756 on the East Coast; $1.681 in the Midwest; $1.704 in the Lower
Atlantic states; $1.67 on the Gulf Coast; and $1.638 in the Rocky Mountain
Region.

NOTE:
For a state-by-state rundown of this year's fuel trends and states that
have a fuel surcharge, visit www.ooida.com. Click on the “Fuel
Prices” link in the blue box at left.